Seasonal Dynamics of Macroalgal Communities of the Northern Florida Reef Tract

Lirman, Diego; Biber, Patrick D.

doi:10.1515/bot.2000.033

Cited by 103 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Many species of coral larvae require CCA to settle (Morse et al 1988;Heyward and Negri 1999), and availability of CCA is negatively correlated with macroalgal abundance (Hixon 1997). Dictyota spp., the most abundant fleshy algae observed in this study, was not as abundant on these patch reefs (15.4 ± 0.8% cover) compared to other locations on the Florida reef tract (Lirman and Biber 2000;Beach et al 2003;Kuffner et al 2006), whereas SSS was fairly abundant (overall mean 21% cover). In a study conducted in this area in 1981, Burns (1985) reported that they observed lots of "uncolonized reef substrate."…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Biological community structure on patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, FL, USA

Kuffner

Grober‐Dunsmore

Brock

et al. 2009

Environ Monit Assess

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Coral reef ecosystem management benefits from continual quantitative assessment of the resources being managed, plus assessment of factors that affect distribution patterns of organisms in the ecosystem. In this study, we investigate the relationships among physical, benthic, and fish variables in an effort to help explain the distribution patterns of organisms on patch reefs within Biscayne National Park, FL, USA. We visited a total of 196 randomly selected sampling stations on 12 shallow (<10 m) patch reefs and measured physical variables (e.g., substratum rugosity, substratum type) and benthic and fish community variables. We also incorporated data on substratum rugosity collected remotely via airborne laser surveying (Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar-EAARL). Across all stations, only weak relationships were found between physical, benthic cover, and fish assemblage variables. Much of the variance was attributable to a "reef effect," meaning that community structure and organism abundances were more variable at stations among reefs than within reefs. However, when the reef effect was accounted for and removed statistically, patterns were detected. Within reefs, juvenile scarids were most abundant at stations with high coverage of the fleshy macroalgae Dictyota spp., and the calcified alga Halimeda tuna was most abundant at stations with low EAARL rugosity. Explanations for the overwhelming importance of "reef" in explaining variance in our dataset could include the stochastic arrangement of organisms on patch reefs related to variable larval recruitment in space and time and/or strong historical effects due to patchy disturbances (e.g., hurricanes, fishing), as well as legacy effects of prior residents ("priority" effects).

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Biological community structure on patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, FL, USA

Kuffner

Grober‐Dunsmore

Brock

et al. 2009

Environ Monit Assess

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“…During this same period, the brown macroalgae Dictyota spp. dominated the benthos at depths between 0 and 25 m on many of these reefs, covering up to 56% of the bottom during the summer months (Lirman & Biber 2000, Beach et al 2003. Dictyota spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhibition of coral recruitment by macroalgae and cyanobacteria

Kuffner

Walters²,

Becerro³

et al. 2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

388

320

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Coral recruitment is a key process in the maintenance and recovery of coral reef ecosystems. While intense competition between coral and algae is often assumed on reefs that have undergone phase shifts from coral to algal dominance, data examining the competitive interactions involved, particularly during the larval and immediate post-settlement stage, are scarce. Using a series of field and outdoor seawater table experiments, we tested the hypothesis that common species of macroalgae and cyanobacteria inhibit coral recruitment. We examined the effects of Lyngbya spp., Dictyota spp., Lobophora variegata (J. V. Lamouroux) Womersley, and Chondrophycus poiteaui (J. V. Lamouroux) Nam (formerly Laurencia poiteaui) on the recruitment success of Porites astreoides larvae. All species but C. poiteaui caused either recruitment inhibition or avoidance behavior in P. astreoides larvae, while L. confervoides and D. menstrualis significantly increased mortality rates of P. astreoides recruits. We also tested the effect of some of these macrophytes on larvae of the gorgonian octocoral Briareum asbestinum. Exposure to Lyngbya majuscula reduced survival and recruitment in the octocoral larvae. Our results provide evidence that algae and cyanobacteria use tactics beyond space occupation to inhibit coral recruitment. On reefs experiencing phase shifts or temporary algal blooms, the restocking of adult coral populations may be slowed due to recruitment inhibition, thereby perpetuating reduced coral cover and limiting coral community recovery.

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“…Understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive shifts from coral to algal dominance is an active area of research across a wide range of geographic locales, including Hawaii (Smith et al 2001Stimson et al 2001), Guam (Thacker et al 2001), Florida (Szmant and Forrester 1996;Lapointe 1997;Miller et al 1999;Lerman and Biber 2000), many Caribbean Islands (Littler and Littler 1984;Littler et al 1991;Hughes 1994;Hughes and Connell 1999;Aronson and Precht 2000;Williams and Polunin 2001), and Australia (Hatcher and Larkum 1983;Bell 1992;McCook 1999McCook , 2001). The results of these studies have been mixed-some have shown strong nutrient effects, others have shown strong herbivore effects, and others have documented interactive effects between both factors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient and growth dynamics of Halimeda tuna on Conch Reef, Florida Keys: Possible influence of internal tides on nutrient status and physiology

Smith

Vroom

et al. 2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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We conducted a manipulative nutrient enrichment study to examine the physiological and growth dynamics of the common tropical reef alga Halimeda tuna from shallow and deep coral reef environments on Conch Reef, in the Florida Keys. Paradoxically, H. tuna exhibited higher growth rates at depth (low light and below saturating irradiances) than at shallow sites (high light and at or above saturating irradiances). We hypothesized that the differences in growth rates were caused by differing nutrient environments at the two sites potentially caused by the influence of internal tidal bores that elevate nutrient concentrations with depth on Conch Reef. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating nutrients in a 10-d field experiment, after which we assessed growth, photosynthetic pigments, tissue nutrients, and other physiological parameters. H. tuna from the shallow back reef site exhibited nutrient limitation, as indicated by increases in growth rates, pigmentation, tissue nutrients, segment size, and photosynthetic rates, after enrichment. At the deep site, growth rates were not significantly different between controls and nutrient-enriched algae. Shallow enriched samples achieved levels of growth that were not significantly different from deep control or enriched samples. Algae from the deep site responded positively to enrichment for some physiological parameters; this suggests an opportunistic strategy in an environment that is known to experience frequent and significant pulses of nutrients from internal tides. Our results document differential nutrient limitation for H. tuna from two sites on Conch Reef where, in general, algae from the shallow site were more nutrient limited than those from the deep site. Finally, this provides some evidence that tropical reef communities may be adapted to large-scale physical processes such as internal tides.Reef algae are an important component of many tropical marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, where their productivity can sustain higher trophic levels and their morphological diversity provides habitat and shelter for a number 1 Corresponding author (jesmith@hawaii.edu).

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Seasonal Dynamics of Macroalgal Communities of the Northern Florida Reef Tract

Cited by 103 publications

References 32 publications

Biological community structure on patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, FL, USA

Biological community structure on patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, FL, USA

Inhibition of coral recruitment by macroalgae and cyanobacteria

Nutrient and growth dynamics of Halimeda tuna on Conch Reef, Florida Keys: Possible influence of internal tides on nutrient status and physiology

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